BOSTON – A long time ago he was a bright light in the Yankees’ future. Now, Al Leiter is a symbol of their bleak pitching present.
Today the 39-year-old lefty will take the Fenway Park mound for the Yankees against the Red Sox.
Acquired yesterday from the Marlins for $400,000, Leiter will make his first start for the Yankees since 1989.
“I am very excited,” said Leiter, who hasn’t worked since a three-inning stint on July 5. “Twenty-one years ago I was drafted by the Yankees. To come full circle is very exciting. It’s not exactly how I wished it would have happened, but it is what it is and I am excited.”
A 1984 second-round pick of the Yankees out of Central Regional H.S. in Bayville, N.J., Leiter left The Bronx for Toronto in 1989. His career was revived when he landed in Florida in 1996 and was a member of the 1997 Marlins World Series champions. Two years later he was dealt to the Mets for whom he went 95-74 in seven seasons.
Leiter was allowed to leave Queens last winter by Mets GM Omar Minaya and signed a one-year deal with the Marlins for $8 million.
The Yankees sent the Marlins $400,000 toward the $2.8 million remaining on the contract signed last December that included a base of $4 million ($2 million deferred), a $3 million signing bonus (all deferred) and a $1 million donation to Leiter’s Landing, the pitcher’s charity.
For their investment the Marlins received a 3-7 record and a 6.64 ERA. They designated Leiter for assignment Thursday and were set to put him on waivers tomorrow because they didn’t believe they could trade a pitcher with a 158-127 big league ledger.
However, the Yankees lost Chien-Ming Wang to a shoulder problem Thursday and watched Tim Redding and Darrell May get punished by the Red Sox Friday. Redding, who lasted one inning Friday night – the shortest outing by a Yankee starter this year – was designated for assignment to make room for Leiter, who will be the 11th Yankee starter. That’s tops in the AL this season.
GM Brian Cashman asked Joe Torre about Leiter and the manager said he would like the lefty to start today. Cashman took it to George Steinbrenner and said it was cheap on both ends. The Boss asked if Torre was on board and the deal was made.
“He is a competitor,” Torre said. “Just go back to Game 5 of the (2000) World Series. Bobby Valentine, a good baseball man, trusted him. There was some question about the pitch count but you get into that situation and you go with the people that you trust.”
Valentine let Leiter start the top of the ninth against the Yankees with the score tied, 2-2, and he fanned Tino Martinez and Paul O’Neill to start the inning. Jorge Posada walked and scored from second on Luis Sojo’s 12-hop single up the middle.
Asked what Leiter’s problems were this year, Torre shrugged.
“Evidently he struggled or he wouldn’t be in this situation,” Torre said. “We hope we can catch lightning in a bottle.”
“I feel as good or better as I have in the last four or five years,” Leiter said. “Why I struggled with inconsistency is hard for me to figure out. I can only think that first it becomes mental then it becomes mechanical and then it snowballs. Maybe it was leaving the Mets, maybe it was not being with my family but I never really felt comfortable.”
Welcome back
Al Leiter was reacquired by the Yankees in a trade with the Marlins for a minor leaguer and cash yesterday.
Here’s a look at Leiter’s history with the Yankees:
1984: Drafted in second round, signed June 23, made pro debut with Oneonta.
1987: At 21 years old, became youngest Yankee since Jose Rijo (1984), and youngest to win a game for team since Gene Nelson (1981). Went 2-2 with 6.35 ERA in four starts.
1988: Went 4-4 with 3.92 ERA in 14 starts.
1989: Traded to Toronto for Jesse Barfield (April 30).
2005: Acquired from Marlins. Will start today at Fenway Park.
Career record at Yankee Stadium: 7-9, 4.59 ERA in 20 games.
